Zinnia, Candy Cane Mix

Short Description

Heirloom double flowers, striped or flecked.

Full Description

Zinnias add bold, vibrant color to gardens. The more you cut the more they bloom! Heat-loving and very easy to grow. Candy Cane Mix has bright pink, rose and cherry stripes on white and sometimes gold blossoms flecked orange-scarlet. This Burpee bred, double flowered heirloom will give you eye-catching, 4" across flowers from midsummer to frost. Butterflies love them, and they make great cut flowers.

Type
Some flowers and vegetables fall into subcategories that may define how they grow (such as pole or bush), what they are used for (such as slicing tomatoes or shelling peas), flower type, or other designations that will help you select the type of a class of plant that you are looking for.

Globe Flowered

Sun
The amount of sunlight this product needs daily in order to perform well in the garden. Full sun means 6 hours of direct sun per day; partial sun means 2-4 hours of direct sun per day; shade means little or no direct sun.

Full Sun

Height
The typical height of this product at maturity.

17 inches

Spread
The width of the plant at maturity.

12-14 inches

Ornamental Use
Ways in which the product may be used in the garden for ornamental effect.

Beds, Borders, Cut Flowers

Life Cycle
This refers to whether a plant is an annual, biennial or perennial. Annuals complete their life cycles in one year; biennials produce foliage the first year and bloom and go to seed the second year; perennials can live for more than two years.

As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Incandescent bulbs will not work for this process because they will get too hot. Most plants require a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours.

Thin to one seedling per cell when they have two sets of leaves.

Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturer’s directions.

Transplant hardened-off seedlings to the garden after the frost.

Before planting in the garden, seedling plants need to be “hardened off”. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens the plant’s cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding.

Sowing Directly in the Garden:

Direct sow seeds in average soil in full sun after all danger of frost.

Prepare the soil by removing weeds and working organic matter into the top 6-8 inches of soil; then level and smooth.

Most plants respond well to soils amended with organic matter. Compost is a wonderful form of organic matter with a good balance of nutrients and an ideal pH level, it can be added to your planting area at any time. If compost is not available, top dress the soil after planting with 1-2 inches of organic mulch, which will begin to breakdown into compost. After the growing season, a soil test will indicate what soil amendments are needed for the following season.

Sow seeds evenly 12 inches apart and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil.

Firm soil lightly with your hand, water and keep evenly moist.

Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days.

Thin seedlings to stand 8-24 inches apart, depending on the variety, when they are about 1-2 inches tall.

Planting in the Garden:

Select a location in full sun with good rich moist organic soil.

Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 8 inches. Level with a rake to remove clumps of grass and stones.

Most plants respond well to soils amended with organic matter. Compost is a wonderful form of organic matter with a good balance of nutrients and an ideal pH level, it can be added to your planting area at any time. If compost is not available, top dress the soil after planting with 1-2 inches of organic mulch, which will begin to breakdown into compost. After the growing season, a soil test will indicate what soil amendments are needed for the following season.

Dig a hole for each plant large enough to amply accommodate the root ball.

Place the top of the root ball even with the level of the surrounding soil. Fill with soil to the top of the root ball. Press soil down firmly with your hand leaving a slight depression around the plant to hold water.

Water thoroughly, so that a puddle forms in the saucer you have created. This settles the plants in, drives out air pockets and results in good root-to-soil contact.

Use the plant tag as a location marker.

Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.

Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures. For annuals an organic mulch of shredded leaves lends a natural look to the bed and will improve the soil as it breaks down in time. Always keep mulches off a plant’s stems to prevent possible rot.

Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It's best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.

Until plants become established, some protection from extreme winds and direct, hot sunlight may be necessary. Good air movement is also important.

After new growth appears, a light fertilizer may be applied. Keep granular fertilizers away from the plant crown and foliage to avoid burn injury. Use low rates of a slow release fertilizer, as higher rates may encourage root rots.

Pinch young plants to encourage branching unless you are growing them exclusively for cut flowers and want long stems.

Monitor for pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.

Remove plants after they are killed by frost in fall to avoid disease issues the following year.

Plant zinnias in mixed plantings with other summer-blooming annuals, or place small groups of zinnias among perennials. They are at home in cottage and children’s gardens, and they are often grown in cutting gardens.

Shorter zinnia varieties are ideal for containers. Take care not to overcrowd them or the flowers may be significantly smaller than they should be and the plants may be taller. Always use a commercial potting mix, do not use garden soil, and make sure the containers have adequate drainage. Container grown plants will require extra water and fertilizer, look for signs of wilt or a nutrient deficiency.

Cut stems before the flower is open for cut flowers.

Zinnias attract hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects.

Product Details

Type

Globe Flowered

Sun

Full Sun

Height

17 inches

Spread

12-14 inches

Ornamental Use

Beds, Borders, Cut Flowers

Life Cycle

Annual

Sow Method

Direct Sow/Indoor Sow

Bloom Duration

12 weeks

Reviews

Zinnia, Candy Cane Mix is rated
3.8 out of
5 by
4.

Rated 4 out of
5 by
TNZinniaguy from
Great Zinnia very showyPurchased seeds in March 2017, and started them indoors. Transplanted to large containers and they are still blooming as of Sept 12, 2017.

Date published: 2017-09-12

Rated 2 out of
5 by
Stevie66 from
Poor ColorWe grew the plants right from the seen packet. The colors are nothing close to vibrant at all. Mostly white, not showy, with little if any red flecks. No sign of a mostly red with white plant. Disappointed, will never purchase again.

Date published: 2016-08-06

Rated 5 out of
5 by
GardenGirl88 from
These Are Amazing!!I loved how they looked in the catalog and I just had to try them. I'm glad I did because they look better than the catalog!
I have white with blazing red, white with deep, dark red, and white with dark fuschia along with yellows, oranges, and other combinations. They are a major standout in the garden.
Very easy to grow from seed, and almost 100% germination. They grew into large zinnia bushes loaded with flowers. This is a must-have for annual flower growers!

Date published: 2009-08-26

Rated 4 out of
5 by
staceyb from
Great ZinniasI am a lover of zinnias but they can get a bit boring after a while. The Candy Cane mix adds a wonderful dynamic to zinnias. I grew these in 2006 and I was absolutely delighted by them. In my native South, you can't ask for a harder working flower than the zinnia and the colorful petals of the Candy Cane mix is quite a show stopper! Plant them where your neighbors can enjoy them too!